#NBAVineRank: 4: Cleveland Cavaliers
By Ian Levy
Welcome back to #NBAVineRank, our latest project here at The Friendly Bounce. We’ve ranked all 30 teams in terms of Vineability, and are counting them down as we kill time in the offseason. Today we check in on the Milwaukee Bucks, who have come in at six.
25-21: Hey look, there are the Pacers
19-16: This is the Lake Show, but don’t drown though
15-11: Miami Heat just miss the top 10
10-9: Wizards and Spurs crack the top 10
7: Rockets and Timberwolves tie for seventh
4 Cleveland Cavaliers (8.9375)
Is the LeBrawwnn Jamessss kid Vine the most important Vine of all time? Yes or yes?
Chris Barnewall (@ChrisBarnewall): Yes?
Zach Oliver (@ZachOliverNBA): No. The amount of times I hear people try to impersonate it… Shoot me.
Taylor Smith (@TaylorBojangles): I don’t even get LeBrawn Jamesss kid, but it’s all of the mesmerizing.
Donnie Kolakowski (@donniebuckets): He really needs a “Where are they now?” Sports Illustrated article.
Ryne Prinz (@ryneprinz): I can’t think of a more important one, so yes.
Matt (@Matt_Cianfrone): I don’t remember many Vine kids so yes.
Jack (@jackhaveitall): Absolutely.
Is LeBron’s Vineability actually underrated?
Chris: It is, but it’s also not. Everybody knows that everything he does as a player is worth putting on a vine. That said, there are certain parts of his skillset, such as his passing, that are easily overlooked.
Zach: To an extent. LeBron does some really fantastic things on the court, but at the same time, when you’re that big and run like a freight train, you should do things that mesmerize us. But, as Chris said, there are areas that should get more love, like his passing.
Taylor: The dunks with his head nearly touching the rim are fun and stuff, but I feel like overall he’s probably properly rated. He’s capable of doing just about everything on the basketball court, which should be a secret to nobody by now.
Donnie: At this point in his career, probably. He goes to the Flying Death Machine well much less than a few years ago, but his basketball IQ has somehow gotten higher. Combine his talent and intelligence and there’s a top vine every few minutes.
Ryne: I wouldn’t say underrated. His jams are still adored, as they should be. Although, like Chris and Zach mentioned, his no-look passes seem to be an underappreciated component to his Vine game.
Matt: I think so because to me blocks and dunks are the two things that get vined most. LeBron does stuff like passing that should be Vined more than he actually is.
Jack: At the very least he’s underappreciated. He’s does ridiculous things on such a regular basis that in some ways it just becomes expected. I feel like in some ways we’ve become numb to his excellence.
Will J.R. be more Vineable on or off the court (bench, locker room, etc) this year?
Chris: He’ll be much more Vineable on the court. J.R. is a fun player off the court, but as much as we talk about it, there’s really not much he does that’s worth talking about compared to some of the crazy stuff he does on the floor.
Zach: Yes? He’s going to do ridiculous things in both areas. We’ll see more on the court, but, off the court could get wild.
Taylor: On the court. Taking as many 35-foot threes in a half-court setting as he does pretty much tops anything he can give us from the bench.
Donnie: I’m with everyone else in that it’s on the court. It’s not like his ridiculousness disappears when he’s on the court, plus you get the ill-advised plays.
Ryne: JR introduced us to the hoverboard and gave us some memorable podium Vines, but Earl is definitely the most Vineable when he’s gunning.
Matt: On the court because he can do stupid stuff like halfcourt shots for no reason and will do it plenty.
Jack: Probably on the court because that’s when we’ll see him most often. But he’s gonna have some classic off the court moments this year, you already know.
Who’s the most Vineable player on the Cavs besides LeBron James?
Chris: What Kyrie Irving can do with a basketball is nuts. He’s fast as hell, and produces some of the best highlights you’ll see all season. It’s him in a landslide.
Zach: Kyrie, probably. Obviously J.R. could be considered, but Kyrie’s handles are just something else.
Taylor: Kyrie. Everything he does looks so effortless. His stroke, his handles, his speed. He’d be the most Vineable player on a good number of teams in the league. But, ya know, LeBrawwwwn Jamessss.
Donnie: I’d love to disagree, but Kyrie is insane. He might be the best contested layup finisher in the league, and, when he gets cooking, he’s top 10 guy in the league in Vineability.
Ryne: Kyrie is absolute magician with the basketball, and the way that he slices through defenses is as exhilarating as it gets. He’s also good for some big shots. Mr. Irving, you are the Cavs 2nd-most Vineable player.
Matt: Kyrie for sure. Between the insane shots and acrobatics and the great handle he is basically a 1b to LeBron’s 1a.
Jack: Ya, it has to be Kyrie. His layups are unreal, and he’s always good for a few nasty crossovers as well.